Electrical conductor



Feb. 27, 1934. c. L. M cREA ELEGTRICAL CONDUCTOR Filed March 19, 1931 nINVENTOR. (f/20122 5 LZMZ'y-ea BY ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 27, 1934 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates broadly to electrical conductors and moreparticularly to an arrangement of electrical conductor by which theconductor may be readily secured upon a supporting surface withoutnailing or otherwise defacing the supporting surface.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a system of electricalconductors having means for supporting the conductors without nailing orotherwise defacing the surface adjacent which the conductors aresupported.

Another object of my invention is to provide an arrangement of retainingmeans for readily mounting electrical conductors against a supportingsurface where the conductors are stretched taut with respect to thesupporting surface and positively maintained in position by an adhesivemedium adhering both to the supporting surface and to the insulatedcovering on the electrical conductors.

A further object of my invention is to provide a supporting means formounting electrical conductors wherein the supporting means possessadhesive characteristics serving to unite the conductors with thesupporting surface.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction ofadhesive tape forming a supporting medium for electrical conductors withmeans extending transversely of the tape at spaced intervals along thelength thereof for supporting the electrical conductors with relation tothe tape which is stretched taut and adhesively united with a supportingsurface adjacent which the conductors are mounted.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an arrangement ofadhesive device adapted to be secured to electrical conductors at spacedintervals along the length thereof for establishing an adhesiveconnection with a supporting surface and suspending the conductors withrespect thereto.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in a method and meansfor mounting electrical conductors as set forth more fully in thespecification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of one form of my improved tape; Fig. 2 isa front elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a transverse, vertical, sectionalview on line 3-3 of .Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the tapeattached to an appropriate surface and the upwardly extending legs bentaround the current conducting cable; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of aportion of a roll of tape embodying my invention showing how the same isshipped and sold; Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing how the tape isused; Fig. 'l is a transverse, vertical sectional view of a modifiedform of my improved tape; Fig. 8 is a transverse, vertical, sectionalview showing more particularly how the attaching lugs are fastened tothe tape; Fig. 9 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view showing howthe tape is fastened to an appro priate surface and the legs bent arounda suitable current conducting cable; Fig. 190 is a front elevation ofthe tape with a current conducting cable in position; Fig. ll. is asectional perspective view showing how the tape is sold; Fig. 12

is a perspective view showing how the tape is used; Fig. 13 is aperspective view showing a modified form of suspension means forelectrical conductors according to my invention; Fig. 1a is a sideelevation showing still another modifled form of my improved cablesupporting units; Fig. 15 is a transverse vertical sectional view of aportion of my improved current cable supporting units; Fig. 16 is adetailed perspective view of one of the units; Fig. 17 is a transversevertical sectional view showing the adhesive tape attached to anappropriate surface; Fig. 18 is a horizontal sectional view taken online Ill-18 of Fig. 17; and Fig. 19 is a perspective view showing theadhesive disc and the coacting fastening lugs in juxtaposition.

Referring to the drawing in detail, reference character 1 designates theadhesive tape which extends longitudinally of the electrical conductorsand is adapted to be united with a supporting surface on the one sideand with the conductors on the opposite side. The tape is provided atintervals with longitudinally extending metallic strips 2 anchored tothe tape in any desired manner. As shown in Fig. 2, the strip 2 isperforated at 212 and 2b to provide laterally projecting teeth 20 whichextend through the tape 1 and are clinched thereover as represented moreclearly in Fig. 3 for retaining the strip 2 in position with respect tothe tape 1. The laterally extending strip 2 is constructed from softpliable metal which is adapted to be bent around the longitudinallyextending conductors as represented in Fig. 4 for supporting theconductors. Fig. 4 shows an arrangement of twin conductors 3 insulatedfrom each other by insulation material represented at a and enclosed byan i: .sulated sheathing repre- 106 sented at 5. The insulated sheathing5 is generally fabric or woven silk whose surface tends to adhere to theadhesive surface of the tape 1. The conductors enclosed in the fabric orwoven silk sheathing 5 are first pressed into surface com 110 tact withthe longitudinally extending tape 1 for establishing an adhesiveconnection therewith, the tape being in turn pressed against thesupporting surface 6. The laterally extending strip 2 is bent over theinsulated sheathing 5 at each end thereof, the bent over ends beingdirected toward each other as indicated at 2d and 2e.

I have shown in Fig. 5 a roll of the tape having a multiplicity oflaterally projecting strips 2 riveted thereto at spaced intervals, whichconstitutes the completed form of the tape of my invention, which is theform in which the tape is shipped and sold.

In Fig. 6, I have shown in perspective view the manner in which the rearadhesive surface of the tape 1 is caused to adhere to the supportingsurface 6. Two of the foldable metal laterally positioned securing meansare shown bent around the longitudinally extending conductors while oneof the securing means is shown in normal position prior to the bendingof the strip around the conductors.

Fig. 7 shows a transverse, vertical sectional view of a modified form ofthe suspension means of my invention in which two longitudinallydisposed lengths of tape are employed back to back as represented at '7and 8 between which at spaced intervals along the tape, the laterallyextending strips 9 are disposed.

As shown in Fig. 8 the strip 9 is secured to the longitudinallyextending tapes 7 and 8 by any suitable means such as rivet 10 whichpasses through the strips of tape '7 and 8. In order to more completelyanchor the laterally extending strips 9 between the lengths of tape '7and 8, the strip 9 is out-struck to provide securing teeth 9a and 9bwhich extend in opposite directions and enter the material of the stripsof tape 7 and 8. The out-struck. portions of the strips 9 thus formedserve to prevent twisting or turning of the strips 9 in respect to thetape.

In Fig. 9 I have shown the manner in which the ends of the strip 9 arebent around the conductors in casing 5 as shown at and 9d. Fig. 10 showsmore clearly the manner in which the strip 9 embraces the conductorswithin sheathing 5 at 9:1 and 9b. The appearance of the twin tapeconstruction is shown in perspective view in Fig. This is the form inwhich the tape is shipped and sold.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the twin tape installed formounting electrical conductors adjacent a supporting surface. It will beobserved that tape 7 directly adheres to the supporting surface 6 whiletape 8 directly adheres to the fabric casing 5 of the electricalconductors 3. The bendable strips 9 are shown in two instances as whollybent around the conductors 4 and in a third instance the strip 9 isshown prior to the bending around the conductors.

In lieu of the longitudinally extending adhesive strips heretoforedescribed, I may employ a series of adhesive pads which serve to supportthe electrical conductors at a. series of different positions along thelength thereof as shown in perspective view in Fig. 13. In this view theconductors which are encased in the fabric covering 5 are supported byadhesive pads 11 which are engaged with the supporting surface at spacedintervals along the conductor 5.

In Fig. 14, I have shown the adhesive pad 11 as being provided with adiametrically extending strip 12. As shown in Fig. 15 the strip 12 isattached to the pad 11 by means of outstruck projecting lugs 14 whichenter the material of the adhesive pad 11 and are anchored therein andclinched thereover. The lugs 14 are punched directly from the strip 12leaving apertures 14a in the strip 12 as indicated in Fig. 16. Thediametrically extending strip 12 has portions which project beyond thelimits of the adhesive pad 11 and are bent over the encased conductor 5as shown at 12a and 12b for maintaining the conductor i position.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 18, the adhesive pad 11 serves as amounting means for the conductor 5 at selected intervals along .thesupporting surface 6. Fig. 19 illustrates the manner in which the lugs14 pierce the adhesive pad 11 and are secured thereto. In the shipmentof adhesive supports of the construction illustrated in Fig. 19 thesupports may be stacked one over another as distinguished from therolled tape construction illustrated in Fig. 5.

I have found the mounting means for conductors as shown herein highlypractical and while I have described preferred embodiments of myinvention, I desire that modifications may be made and that nolimitations upon my invention are intended other than are imposed by thescope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is as follows:

1. Electrical conductors having an enclosing casing a tape having anadhesive surface on each side thereof and extending longitudinally ofsaid conductors, one side of said tape being secured to a supportingsurface, the other side of said tape being united with the the enclosingcasing of said conductors, and pliable metallic strip members carried bysaid tape at spaced intervals along the length thereof and bendablearound said enclosing casing for reinforcing the support of saidconductors with respect to said tape.

2. Electrical conductors having an enclosing casing a tape extendinglongitudinally of said casing, said tape having an adhesive surface oneach side thereof, the enclosing casing being adhesively united with oneside of said tape and said tape being adhesively secured to a supportingsurface at the other side thereof, a multiplicity of laterallypositioned flexible metallic strips spaced at intervals along the lengthof said tape and projecting in opposite directions therefrom andproviding bendable fingers adapted to be folded around opposite sides ofthe enclosing casing and directed toward each other for securing saidconductors in position.

3. An electrical conductor having an enclosing casing, a tape extendinglongitudinally of said casing, said tape having an adhesive surface at

